Taiwan and China Unification Crisis... Danger or Opportunity for the United States?
Abstract
The People's Republic of China (PRC) will reabsorb Taiwan. Taiwan and the PRC have two different systems of government and economics. The PRC's government is an authoritarian communist regime that is evolving its own style of free market economy. Taiwan's government is a freely elected democracy and its economy is already a free market system. The PRC's political leaders consider Taiwan to be an integral part of China and are determined to reunity Taiwan with mainland China, by force if necessary, rather than let Taiwan obtain its independence as a separate, internationally recognized entity. This study will provide background material regarding the current relationship between the two countries, and their relationships with the United States. This paper will argue that mainland China will eventually reabsorb Taiwan and that the United States can influence this coming unification to ensure it is done peacefully with favorable economic benefits to all three nations. This argument will be based on an analysis of historical data and recent events. This paper will provide recommendations on how the United States might influence the process by which Taiwan will be unified with mainland China in order to reduce potential conflicts within the Pacific Rim.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA309482
Entities
People
- Donald G. Croom
Organizations
- United States Army War College